Victory Symbol Zhukov

Author: Wang Rizhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: World War II was the largest conflict in human history. In this war, fought between the fascist axis powers and the anti-fascist alliance, the sheer number of troops and weaponry deployed, the vast geographical scope of the battlefields, the novelty of combat tactics, the magnitude of losses incurred, and the profound impact it had were unprecedented. Despite the war having ended nearly 50 years ago, with the passage of time and changes in circumstances, it still captivates numerous military strategists and historians from both China and abroad with its grandeur, depth, and richness. World War II provided countless soldiers with opportunities to showcase their talents and demonstrate their abilities, giving rise to a generation of outstanding commanders. Within the ranks of the anti-fascist forces, a group of brilliant commanders emerged, each renowned for their achievements and military prowess, whose names are etched in history for their monumental contributions.
The "Illustrated Series on International Figures of World War II" consists of 15 volumes, featuring 15 prominent figures, essentially covering the key political and military representatives from both sides of the conflict. These include works written by the popular international affairs expert and best-selling author Xie Lifu, such as "The Three of World War II" and "The Three of World War II," as well as contributions from other military historians.
Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, born on December 2, 1896, into a cobbler family in Kaluga Province, southwest of Moscow, joined the army at the age of 19 and participated in World War I. For his battlefield achievements, he was awarded two George Cross medals. The following year after the October Revolution, Zhukov joined the Red Army and rose from soldier to platoon leader during battles against the White Army led by Kolchak. He later pursued advanced military education, graduating from the Cavalry Training Course in 1920, the Cavalry Commanders' Advanced Course in 1925, and the Senior Commanders' Course in 1930. Subsequently, he held various commands, including commander of a cavalry division, assistant inspector of cavalry, commander of the 4th Cavalry Division, commander of the 3rd and 6th Cavalry Corps, and deputy commander of the Belorussian Special Military District.
In June 1939, Zhukov was transferred to command the 1st Mongolian-Soviet Army Group, where he successfully led the Red Army and Mongolian forces in the Kharalakh River campaign, defeating Japan's northern advance and earning his first "Hero of the Soviet Union" title. This marked his meteoric rise to prominence. In June 1940, he was promoted to Marshal of the Soviet Union and appointed commander of the Kyiv Special Military District. In January 1941, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, becoming its top military leader.
On June 22, 1941, the Soviet-German War broke out. The next day, the Supreme High Command Headquarters was established, and Zhukov was one of its seven members. On July 29, Zhukov advised Stalin to abandon Kyiv and focus on defending Moscow. Stalin retorted, "Nonsense! How can we abandon Kyiv to the enemy?" Zhukov, unable to contain himself, replied, "If you think my role as Chief of the General Staff is nothing but nonsense, then I have no use here. I request to be relieved of my position and sent to the front." After a heated exchange, Stalin dismissed Zhukov as Chief of the General Staff and assigned him to the front as commander of the Reserve Front.
The subsequent course of the war demonstrated Zhukov's foresight. Had Stalin accepted his advice at the time, the tragic encirclement and annihilation of 660,000 Soviet troops in the Kyiv campaign could have been avoided. Within hours, Zhukov was on his way to the front as commander of the Reserve Front. He led the campaign in the Yenya region, successfully executing the first offensive of the Great Patriotic War and crushing German vanguard forces.
In September 1941, when Leningrad was besieged by German forces, Zhukov was appointed commander of the Leningrad Front. He coordinated operations with the Baltic Fleet, effectively halting the German advance and thwarting Hitler's attempt to "erase the city from the face of the Earth." That same October, as the capital Moscow faced crisis, Zhukov was recalled to Moscow to command the new Western Front, taking full responsibility for the defense of the city. He established a strong defensive line west of Moscow, withstood the frontal assault of the German 4th Army, and wore down the enemy. As winter approached, the Soviet forces launched a powerful counteroffensive against the exhausted and freezing German troops, forcing them to retreat and securing the victory in the defense of Moscow, compelling the Germans to shift from a lightning war to a protracted one.
In August 1942, Stalin appointed Zhukov as Deputy Supreme Commander and sent him to the Stalingrad front to oversee the battle. After analyzing the situation in Stalingrad, he first organized the Red Army's defensive operations to tire out the enemy, then collaborated with Vasilevsky to formulate a grand counteroffensive plan, which led to the encirclement and destruction of 300,000 German troops in the Stalingrad region. On January 18, 1943, following the Battle of Stalingrad, Zhukov was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. He then commanded the relief of Leningrad and the Battle of Kursk, both of which achieved great success.